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fitbody
multiple disciplines, and so able to
address a student’s needs, both physi-
cally and energetically. Sarah Mitchell
CPCC, of Albuquerque, Nia Green Belt
and co-owner of Studio Sway says,
“Nia is a practice: Barefoot cardio-
vascular fitness; Versatile, exhilarating,
multidimensional and effective; Fitness
developed through the sensation of
joy and pleasure rather than effort and
pain; A body•mind fitness and lifestyle
practice developed through playful,
conscious movement; Celebration of
the body, inquiry of the mind, expres-
sion of spirit and emotion.”
Finding art in the human form and
elevating fitness to a conscious, self-
healing practice have been the work of
Creativity in Motion
Nia founders Debbie and Carlos Rosas
for 25 years. According to the Rosas,
Nia enables students to use movements
Dancing Through Life with Nia
learned in class to enrich all aspects of
their lives, inside and outside the
studio.
by Gail Condrick
“The Nia practice, what we call
L
ooking for a cardio workout that and these events can be found on the ‘dancing through life,’ is choosing to
engages both mind and body Nia New Mexico website, along with make every movement a dance of self-
with a side order of conscious- contact information. Diane Agnew, healing,” explains Beth O’Neall, Black
ness? The Nia Technique may be just co-owner of Studio Sway, a Nia studio Belt instructor in Albuquerque. “Nia
the ticket. In each hour-long Nia class, in Albuquerque, says, “The Nia com- helps me become the person I want to
enthusiasts experience the creativity of munity in New Mexico is large and be. When I started Nia in 2000, I had
dance, the precision of yoga and the still growing. When Debbie and Carlos two young children and a full time
power of martial arts, as they move to Rosas, the founders of Nia, were tour- job. I was ready to get a life. At the first
music that rocks the body and soothes ing the US with the Spirit of Nia tour, class, I was hooked. The music had lots
the soul. Nia blends the energy forms the New Mexico stop was one of the of pounding drums, and some of the
of Tai chi, aikido, tae kwon do, Dun- largest with over 150 attendees.” moves reminded me of African dance.
can dance, jazz, modern dance and Awareness makes a difference. In I showed up each week, three times
yoga into a holistic, self-healing experi- Excuses Begone! Wayne Dyer, Ph.D., a week, in baggy purple pants and an
ence. The underlying principle of it all concludes that it is this conscious oversized black t-shirt. Sometimes I
is finding joy and pleasure in move- awareness that boosts effectiveness of ended up in tears. Important feelings
ment. Renowned physician Christiane such physical exercise and creates the or ideas would simply drop in, and the
Northrup characterizes Nia as “a total potential for self-healing. Darren Avila, simplicity and enormity of them would
mind, body, spirit celebration.” In her Nia White Belt from Santa Fe says, move me to tears. Several times, I left
book, The Secret Pleasures of Meno- “Nia is an amazing tool I use for physi-
pause, she notes that regular exercise cal, emotional and spiritual connection
can add 20 years to a life and encour- to my body and the pleasure that is
ages individuals to get moving. inherent in it. It has helped me trans-
A Nia class “celebration” is an active, form grief into joy and find an ease of
sweaty, cardiovascular workout cur- movement in my body unlike anything
rently practiced in 39 ountries. I have ever experienced before. It’s cer-
New Mexico has approximately 25 tainly not just for women, it’s a kickass
certified instructors, mostly spread workout for men too!”
between Albuquerqure and Santa Fe. The “more” delivered in Nia class
The instructors continue to hold many comes courtesy of Nia teachers, exten-
events to attract the Nia community, sively trained in the technique’s
20 Northern & Central New Mexico
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